Old Westbury rejects multifamily zoning changes

Three years after Old Westbury commissioned a comprehensive and costly land use review, the town has rejected its recommendations to rezone to allow for multifamily housing.

Officials dismissed the recommendations from VHB, which began conducting its study in 2018, according to Newsday.

The town spent a total of $232,000 on the review, the report noted.

Critics opposed high-density development and expressed concern over changing the town’s character. Residents formed the Village of Old Westbury Civic Association last month to voice opposition to the plan.

Old Westbury has approximately 1,200 single-family homes, which make up 98 percent of the housing stock in the village.

“It would have a significant impact on the village, and I don’t think it would be beneficial,” trustee Andrew Weinberg said of the proposed changes.

The study identified three potential sites for multifamily buildings, including the 98-acre Phipps Estate, which is under contract to be purchased by developer Stewart Senter.

The developer had plans for around 350 units of luxury condos for residents 55 and older, and was optimistic it could generate local taxes without bringing in school-age children, according to the report.

Drama followed the final vote, as Deputy Mayor Marina Chimerine was asked to remove herself from the debate because of past use of Senter’s company. She declined to do so.

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